Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Gelechiids (Family Gelechiidae)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

The caterpillars of this large and highly diverse family are not separated easily from other families of Lepidoptera. Experts use the relative positions of body hairs, a structure near the anus, and other characteristics to identify members of the family. These caterpillars have single pairs of prolegs on A3 to A6 and A10. They usually reach a length of 10 to 15 mm at maturity.

The feeding habits of gelechiids are as varied as their morphology. The caterpillars eat a wide variety of plants by mining foliage, rolling or tying leaves, and boring into stems. Some eat flowers, seeds, bark, or twigs; others feed externally upon foliage. A few are gall makers or scavengers. The caterpillars may be either solitary or gregarious. Coleotechnites species, the largest group of conifer feeders in the family, are miners of foliage. Of these species, the miners of arborvitae and ornamental junipers are important foliar pests. Identification of the food plant is essential for correct determination of the species on conifers. Other members of the family are significant pests of cotton, stored grain, and other products.

In most adults, the ends of the relatively broad hindwings are drawn into a point or lobe that is distinct because of an indentation in the rear margin of the wings. The generally small moths are active mainly at night.

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